THE BIG BOOK GIVEAWAY 2026

SUN, MAR 1, 2026 - 9:42

Good gravy, it's been been 5 years since the release of Torril City, you say?

That calls for a celebration! And what better way to celebrate than by giving away a bunch of books?

In March of 2026, I'm giving away 5 copies of The Torril City Mysterion: A Pinch of Peril, and 5 copies of the newly released This Emerald Crucible.

Claiming a copy for yourself is easy! Just follow these 2 steps:

1) Visit my handy-dandy Contact form by clicking here.
2) Select '2026 Big Book Giveaway' as the subject, and make sure to write which book you'd prefer to receive (I promise not to share your information or spam you!)

That's it! Once you've hit 'Send' your name will go into the draw.

At the end of the month, 10 names will be picked at random and these entrants will receive a book in the mail!

Best of luck to you all.

The obligatory Terms and Conditions can be read here.

PIXORAMA: CUSTOM POKÉMON SPRITE

TUE, FEB 24, 2026 - 8:37

In the latest episode of Pixorama, Jimzip is delving into the era of the Game Boy Advance (GBA) to rustle up a custom Pokémon sprite!

Did you know that the GBA had a palette of over 32,000 colours to choose from? Or that only 512 colours could be displayed at any one time? This was a fascinating era for gaming and saw pixel art reaching its zenith of an art form — and that's exactly what we're exploring in this episode!

Come along for the ride. And don't forget to bring along some spare Pokéballs!

A GREAT TIME FOR FANTASY

TUES, FEB 10, 2026 - 10:37

It's undeniably a great time for fantasy.

Nowadays, with tech capabilities and audience demand converging pleasantly like sugar and butter, we're getting a slew of new material to enjoy. And the latest news in this area came just two weeks ago when Brandon Sanderson and Apple signed "an unprecedented deal" (in Hollywood Reporter language), giving Apple the rights to Sanderson's expansive, beloved, and undeniably delicious fictional universe, the 'cosmere'.

The deal is rare one, coming after a competitive situation which saw Sanderson meet with most of the studio heads in town. It gives the author rarefied control over the screen translations, according to sources. Sanderson will be the architect of the universe; will write, produce and consult; and will have approvals.

- The Hollywood Reporter

I couldn't be happier about this.

First of all, I'm a Sanderson fan. Secondly, I'm an Apple fan, and I've been delighted with almost everything AppleTV has cooked up so far. Like Apple itself, it seems that AppleTV shares their parent company's desire for high-quality and attention-driven design, and it's equally evident that a respect for the source material is also part of their ethos – all of which forges excellent TV. The hit-rate for good shows on AppleTV is undeniably good, as a quick glance at IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes will confirm. Severance, For All Mankind, Ted Lasso, See, Silo, and Foundation have all been excellent.

Foundation in particular has demonstrated that mature, complex and high-quality fiction is not only viable but that audiences are hungry for it. Again, as a huge fan of Isaac Asimov's work, I consider it an excellent re-imagining of the source material. It's different but in all the right ways, stays true to the heart of the works, and adds some new layers which the books lacked but which elevate the series (adding the 'genetic dynasty' was a masterstroke, allowing continuity, familiarity, and a lens through which to view the crumbling of Empire effectively, for example).

All-up, AppleTV productions are some of the best out there and, perhaps most impressively of all, Apple has somehow avoided letting current social or political trends or slants sully the production (unlike some other studios, namely Amazon, Netflix, & Disney…).

So, you can see why I'm excited. If everything pans out, we're going to get some stellar new fantasy material to sink our teeth into, though it's going to be a few more months before anything more concrete is announced. All I'll say for now is that seeing as Sanderson himself is slated to retain a lot of creative control, I think there's reason for hope on this one.

Hear Brandon speak about this exciting deal himself on his YouTube.

Here's to that, fellow fantasy freaks!

Jim :)

NEW: JAMES McLEOD'S ‘THIS EMERALD CRUCIBLE' HITS THE SHELVES

THU, JAN 15, 2026 - 09:00

Ladies and gentlemen, gikkans and paddoneks; after many teasers and trailers and tantalising hints, a new chapter in the world of Aliru has officially arrived!

‘This Emerald Crucible’, the newest fantasy-adventure from James McLeod, is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and online retailers everywhere - and it’s set to rock the boat in more ways than one…

PAPERBACK & EBOOK AVAILABLE NOW!
BUY ON AMAZON OFFICIAL WEBSITE VIEW TRAILER

Neither sequel nor prequel, more of a skewquel, this story takes place in the same world as The Torril City Mysterion, but in a different time and place, featuring a new host of characters. If you’ve read Torril City you’ll find tantalising tidbits strewn through the tale but, if not, this story can be experienced on its own as an introduction to this vast and mysterious world.

Reiuk hates people and loves plants, but when he’s sent to the strange, tropical island of Taen Lua, he’ll have to overcome his inner-furor if he’s going to survive the jungle, the people, and the ancient mysteries he’s suddenly confronted with…

Today is a special day, and one which I’ve looked forward to for a few years now. It’s a day on which I can now share the world I’ve been living in since 2018. If you pick up a copy, I really hope you enjoy it. As always, the aim is to delight and thrill my readers with excellent fantasy and adventure, and I hope this story lives up to that goal.

PRAISE FOR THIS EMERALD CRUCIBLE:

“IT’S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO READ […] and see another aspect of Aliru. "This Emerald Crucible" is an epic, secondary world fantasy […] disguised as a cosy murder mystery.”
- L.A. Reader

"THE PROTAGONISTS ARE DELIGHTFULLY DYSFUNCTIONAL, but here is a story of transformation and hope."
- Moritz Kobler

"A ROLLICKING GOOD RIDE. This tale sings with drama, mystery and magick. I'll never forget it!”
- Harakar, Chronicler & Adventurer

"McLEOD'S LOVE OF HISTORY is evident throughout the beautiful world he has crafted."
- Tu'Sum, Royal Historian

THIS EMERALD CRUCIBLE is a PART ONE of OF SAND AND SOIL, a story set in the world of Aliru.

Cheers!

Jim :)

THE MARINER SETS SAIL!

THU, DEC 11, 2025 - 14:27

Fantasy fiends, ahoy! The giving season has officially begun, so what better time to drop a little gift on you all?

If you’re in the mood for a tale of adventure, magick and mystery on the high-seas, head over to the Short Story Library and cast off with The Mariner!


VISIT THE LIBRARY

I’m so happy it’s finally ready to share with you all and, as usual, it’s free!

An audiobook version is on the way, so stay tuned for that.

Until then, peace!

Jim :)